AstraZeneca could supply potential coronavirus vaccine from September

Firm has capacity to make 1bn doses of Oxford University drug undergoing trials

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AstraZeneca has said it has the capacity to manufacture 1bn doses of the University of Oxford's potential Covid-19 vaccine and will begin supply in September if clinical trials are successful.

The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said it had signed the first agreements to supply at least 400m doses of the potential vaccine, yet to be proven effective, which it is developing with the university. AstraZeneca said it recognised the vaccine might not work but if results from the early stage tests were positive, they would lead to late-stage trials in several countries.